Combined tool



Jun 9, 1959 w. BASSETT 2,889,621

COMBINED TOOL I Filed Aug. 6, 1957 l I /l-| Hwy A h. .L M,

Hill

- INVENTOR fimrhlfinusrr ATTORNEYS Uted States Patent 4 Claims. (Cl.30-152) Conn., asslgnor to The Derby, Conn., a corporation My inventionrelates to a combined tool, and particularly to an improved means forholding a blade or blades in desired position. The invention will bedescribed as applied to a combined tool, including a case having one ormore blade-like members pivotally mounted therein and movable fromclosed position within said case to open position extending away fromsaid case. The blades are held in desired positions by friction means.

It is an object of the invention to provide a combined tool withimproved means for holding blade members in predetermined positions.

Another object is to provide an improved tool involving a case andblades independently movable from closed position to open position andheld frictionally in predetermined positions.

Still another object is to provide a tool of the character indicatedwherein the blades are frictionally held during movement and inpredetermined positions by improved and simplified spring means.

Other objects and various features of novelty and invention will beapparent or will be pointed out.

Briefly stated, in a preferred form of the invention, I employ a channelhaving a base and opposed upstanding side walls defining a retainingcase. One or more blade-like members are held within said case and arepivotally mounted on a pivotal axis between said side Walls. The bladesare independently movable from closed positions within said case to openpositions extending away from said case. Each blade is provided with afriction surface for frictionally engaging a spring means on said casefor holding said blades in predetermined positions and the frictionsurfaces on said blades are preferably concentric with the pivot axis,and the spring means on the case will preferably be formed integrallywith the case. Thus, when a blade is opened or closed, it will befrictionally resisted during the opening or closing motion andfrictionally held in wide open or other predetermined position.

In the drawings, which show for illustrative purposes only, preferredforms of the invention:

Fig. 1 is a front view in central vertical longitudinal section throughthe case of a combined tool illustrating features of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1, but showing two blades in place, oneopen and one closed;

Fig. 3 is an inverted perspective view of the combined tool case shownin Figs. 1 and 2;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. l, but illustrating a modification;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 2, but illustrating the modification ofFig. 4;

Fig. 6 is an inverted perspective view of the case of the combined toolshown in Figs. 4 and 5;

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 1 illustrating a still furthermodification;

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 2, but illustrating the modificationshown in Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is an inverted perspective view of the case shown in Figs. 7 and8.

In said drawings, the case consists of a channel-shaped member includinga base 5 with upstanding side walls or flanges 6, the whole channelbeing elongated and forming the case or housing of the combined tool. Aplurality of blade members such as 7-8 are pivotally mounted in thehousing between the upstanding side walls, and the pivot memberpreferably consists of a hollow eyelet 10 passing through openings inthe side walls and through registering openings in the blade members7-8.

The blade members are designed to be held in predetermined definitepositions by friction means, and therefore each blade is provided with afriction surface 11 preferably concentric with the pivotal axis of theblades and extending arcuately to an extent suflicient for pro vidingfriction for the blade during at least a part of the opening movementand while the blade is in open position. In the form shown in Fig. 2this surface 11 terminates in a tangential surface to engage the insideof the base and the spring when the blade is open. Spring means willserve to engage friction surfaces 11, and in the forms shown, suchspring means are integral with the bases of the channels. a

As shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, a spring tongue 12 is formed in the baseadjacent the pivot openings through the side walls, and this tongue, inthe form shown in Fig. 3, is preferably formed by slitting or lancingthe metal of the base along parallel spaced lines 13-13, leaving thetongue 12 between them. These lancings 13-13 are adjacent the upstandingside wall 6 and therefore the intermediate spring part coverssubstantially the entire transverse extent of the channel at theparticular end where the spring tongue is located. The channel base isfurther provided with another lancing or slit 14 transversely of thebase and joining the slits 13-13 at one end so as to leave the springtongue 12 free of the base except at the rear end where it is integrallyjoined thereto. This spring tongue 12 in the form shown is initiallydisplaced inwardly as indicated particularly in Figs. 1 and 3, and whenthe blades assembled with the case are open this spring tongue 12 willbe stressed and the spring tongue 12 will then occupy a position asshown in Fig. 2 substantially flush with the outside of the base.

Each friction surface 11 is preferably of a circum ferential extentsufiicient to contact the spring tongue 12 and exert a friction stressduring at least a considerable portion of the opening movement of theblade, such as 7; and the spring exerts spring friction pressure enoughto hold the blades in open position as shown in Fig. 2. The other bladesare preferably relieved at the back edge 15, that is the edges oppositethe friction surfaces engaging the spring when the blades are wide open.Thus, and the other blade, 8, are closed those latter blades in closedposi-'- when one blade, such as 7, is open, such as tion being relievedas shown at 15, will not impair the spring action of the tongue 12 inengagement with the friction surface 11 or its tangential continuationon the blade 7 in open position.

In the form shown in Figs. 4, 5 and 6, all of the parts aresubstantially duplicates of those heretofore described and are given thesame reference characters except that the spring on the case isdifferent and the conformation of the friction surfaces vary slightly.In the form shown in Figs. 4, 5 and 6, the spring member 20 is formedintegrally with the base. The spring is formed by slitting the base 5along two parallel lines, as indicated at 21- 21, and these slits 21-21terminate short of the ends so that spring member 20 will be integrallysecured at its ends to the base of the channel but will be free of thePatented June 9,1959.

3., base=anrfwailt-ofthercliannel at the sides because of the slitsZT-ZI'. This sprmg-member 20" is preferably dis-' placed inwardly asindicated particularly in Figs44, 5 and 6 so as to provide an inwardlyextending spring portion within the case for engagement by the frictionsurfaces 11' on the blades as heretofore described. These frictionsurfaces 11 will normally not have the tangential continuations shown inFig, ZJ-but' will be aren'- atein all spring engaging zones.

'I'heother; features; such as relieving'ofthe blades: over springs: whenin'closedtpositions and other. construetions; are, the. same. as thoseheretofore described.

: Inv therfbrmshown in. Figs. 7; 8 and 9;, all of 'the parts. againnresubstantially thesame" as heretofore described; except the construction"of the spring 25 integral with the base of. the. channel. This. Springmember 25 is formed by, two parallel. slits. 2E2Z extendinglongitudinally of the basehandlsubstantially. along edges of. the side.walls 6 -41 These? slits -26. terminate. short of the.

ends ofithebaseandthe. spring member. istherefore 'integrally. joined totherbase atits two ends andisfreeofl thebase only along, slits. Eda-26;This. spring member 25: may while unstressed, be flush. with the.outsidezofi the. channel. base, and. the friction surface 11" on. the

blades: are. of such. radial. extent. thatv they engage. the. 9

spring member. 25 andfunction exactly the. same as the blades heretoforedescribed. When. the. blade 7 is in open position, as shown in Fig. 8.,-the. spring member 25. will be. displaced outwardly to some. extentasshowm in exaggerated: form-.in. Fig, 8 so. as-toppovide. the:necessary springfriction onthe blade. Theiblades themselves. and the:friction; surfaces. and all. other features except the: partimflarconstruction. ofithe-tsppingmember 25: are. the. same as: those"l1r-:ret.ofore.-v described in connection. with: Fig;.4, S-i and'fiiItrwilllbe;seemthcntbatzlhaveprovided acombined tool: whereinamty. one.bladevort all blades: may be; moved; to open; position and. frictionallyheld-inthat. or any; othen position by spring means: integral. withthe.- case; or. base of: the. case. When. one blade is. inopempositionandthe. other-blades are. in closed. position; theconstruction. ofntheabladesziszpreferably such that they do not impairthe spring actioru on. the blade in open. position. Theentent'iofi-thefrictiorc surfaces preferably willbe such. as. to:crcate'arfri'ctiombindof the; blades on the case spring: dluzing'atlcasta part anrl; preferably a large-part, of theopening: movement? of:the blades and also a sufficient frictional force to: hold; the:blade'indefinitely inopen; or any other position.

Since the friction-surfaces on thebladesare perfectly concentric:withthepirotal axes, thef'riction forceswill.

be substantially constant duringzthe: opening movement? either-blade;anchwhile thei blade-:isheld in open-position; Whilethefrictionsurfaces.such as:.11 aresall shownas. being concentric; with the pivotal-axes,such. surfacescould be.-.ma'de-. slightly spiralor very slightlyenlarged at thev parts: engaging thezspring members when the blades are.in. wide open position, thusproviding. additional. friction forcesas;distinguished .fromsnap action forces for holdingthe blade or bladesinwide: openposi-tion'.. The blade pansare: all. very; simply formed,and. the spring means assesses along the bases are easily formed byslitting the metal of the base so astrr provide spring tongues.

Reference is made herein. to Bassett application Serial No. 615,200filed October 10, 1956, now Patent No. 2,798,290.

While the invention has been described in considerable detail andpreferred forms illustrated, it is to be understood that various changes.may be. made within the scope of the invention as defined in theappended claims.

Ilclaim:

l. Ina devicee of'the. character indicated, an elongated channel havinga base and opposed upstanding side walls and defining; a. retainingcase, a plurality of. elongated blade members, means for pivotallysupporting said blade members about a common: axis between said sidewalls, one of said blade members having a friction surface substantiallyconcentric with said pivot axis, the base of said channel having a painof. longitudinal slits adjacent. said upstanding, side. walls andlocated beneath said. pivot. axis, said slits: terminating short. of thelongitudinalend'ss of" said base, whereby a spring member is defined.integral atboth ends with'said base and free thereofbetween said islits, saidfi'i'ction surface engaging said spring, member and being; ofa circumferential extent to engage said. spring member during apart ofthe opening movement of" said blade member and continuously up to andincluding the blade-open position.

2". A deviceaccording to claim 1, in which said fri'ce tion surface isformed" of contour having progressively varying radius, the low point ofthe. contour: being adjacent but relieved from said spring member. whenthe. blade is. in. closed position.

3; In the combination defined in claim 1, the-metal between saidslitstbeing displaced inwardly so, as to provide'a springprojectinginto:said channel for the purpose setforth.

4. In a device of the character indicated, an elongated channel having abase and opposed upstanding side walls and defining a' retaining case,an elongated. blade mermber and meansfor pivotally supporting saidblademe her about an axis extending between said side walls, said blademember. having a friction surface substantially con-- centric with saidpivot axis, the baseof said channel hav-- ing a pair of longitudinalslits adjacent said upstanding side walls and located beneath said pivotaxis, said slits? terminating short of the longitudinal ends of saidbase, whereby a spring, member is defined integral at both ends"withsaidbase and free thereof between said slits, said; friction surfaceengaging said spring member and being. of a circumferential extent toengage said spring mem. ber duringa part of'theopening movement of saidblade" member and continuously up to andincluding the blade.-openposition.

Referencesflitedin the-file-of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,779,098 Pocoski'et a1 I an. 29, 1957 FOREIGN PATENTS 21,911 GreatBritain Nov. 20,1902.

